A quick thread that is sure to make you smile:

My barber emigrated here from Mexico when he was 17 in 1970. He moved for a better life/future like many but, also because he LOVED American cars (remember this). He’s been my barber for 4 years and works extremely hard.

He’s a husband, a parent, and a grandparent. He’s always had to provide for his family and still helps provide for his children’s families. He’s happy and funny and never complains about any of it. His grandchildren have also always been in his shop - they are a hoot.

In the four years I’ve sat in his chair I’ve heard countless stories, been taught bits of Spanish with some laughs, met the family, and more. What’s always been a big topic? Cars. He loves them. He became a barber to hopefully be able to buy a cool car in the 70’s or 80’s.

However, like most, life generally doesn’t go the way you plan. He was never able to afford a car he wanted back then b/c he started a family + had to support it. Then his children started having children + he selflessly has supported them, too. All with a smile on his face.

He’s always said he hasn’t had the most money but him + his family are happy, healthy, and fortunate. Truly puts most of the things you see people care about in LA to shame. Sitting in his chair is always therapeutic. Anyways...

His son caught the same affection for cars that he did + 2 years ago he helped his son get a 1965 Mustang. That was a happy day for him. An American muscle car, one he dreamed about back when he was a kid in 1970 USA - yet he got it for his son, not for him. Selfless again.

We’ve always talked about crypto but he’s never invested much money into anything outside of his business because he hasn’t had much excess money to do so. Then today (haven’t been in his chair since March) I go in and he has the craziest smile on his face.

He then proceeds to tell me how he invested in #DOGE a year ago because it was cheap <$0.01 and he could afford some of it. He then told me he checked it in April and realized he made so much money that he couldn’t believe it.

51 years after moving here for the love of American cars, he finally bought his first one at 68. A 1960 Ford Thunderbird. The happiest I’ve ever seen him. He showed me pictures for 20 min before even cutting one hair. Today was a good day. Good things happen to good people.

I think the moral here is that no matter what the circumstances are, choose happiness. You can’t always control timing or life itself but, you can definitely choose to find the light and good in every day If you made it this far you are a real one. Thanks for reading. #BeHappy